Louisiana man dies near Ono Island after boat backs up over him

A Louisiana man died Monday afternoon after he fell from his ski boat near Ono Island and was then struck by its propeller when the vessel was accidentally backed over him, according to investigators.

Brent Poor, 41, died after being struck at 12:10 p.m., Alabama Marine Police Officer Jon Archer said. Archer did not have a hometown listed for Poor. An online records check indicated that he was from Baton Rouge.

Poor was with his wife and two children on Old River when an attachment for a towrope tangled in the propeller of his 24-foot Sea Ray boat, Baldwin County Assistant Coroner Rod Steade said.

While Poor was leaning over the stern of the boat to free the line, the vessel slipped into forward gear, and he fell into the water, Steade said.

Someone on the boat tried to put the boat back into neutral but instead pushed the gear into reverse, Steade said. The boat struck Poor.

"His wife jumped in and immediately pulled him up and started CPR on him, but it was a futile attempt," Steade said.

Poor was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken to the Alabama Forensic Sciences laboratory in Mobile, where an autopsy will be performed, Steade said.

Steade and Archer both said there was no indication that alcohol was a factor in the accident.

The accident took place near Bella Luna condominiums, where the family has a vacation home, Steade said.